If you’ve chosen Phuket as your holiday destination, your main aim is probably to spend a LOT of time on the beach. But, surprise! There are many other activities and tours you can include in your trip to make your holiday even more fantastic. Here are a few suggestions.
Boat trip to the Similan Islands
This was definitely the highlight of our Phuket holiday. The Similan Islands are unbelievably paradisiacal, with turquoise waters like nowhere else I’ve never seen before, not even in the Maldives.
Read the full post here for all the details about this tour, which is only available from 15 October to 15 May, outside the rainy season.
Photo 1: Beach at Similan Islands
Photo 2: Beach at Similan Islands
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Visiting an elephant park is a must when visiting Thailand, and there are so many options available to choose from. I was looking for places that genuinely cared for the elephants and focuses on raising awareness of the mistreatment of these animals face in tourist activities such as circuses and rides, or in the logging industry.
This park seemed to tick all the boxes. There’s no direct interaction with the elephants during the visit, except at the end, when you can feed them.
Read the full post here for more details on this experience.
Photo 3: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Photo 4: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Phuket Old Town
Most visitors come to Phuket for its beautiful beaches and Phuket Old Town is not always included as a tourist attraction in the region . However, I really enjoyed exploring the historic centre, strolling through streets lined with colourful ‘shophouses’. These streets are filled with quirky shops selling everything from clothes and antiques to artwork, as well as many charming cafes. You could easily spend hours wandering around!
Find out more about Phuket’s Old Town in the full post here, with more details about the town, main attractions, and tour suggestions.
Photo 5: Soi Romanee street
Photo 6: Dibuk Road
Phi Phi Islands
When we visited Thailand in 2016, we spent a few days on the Phi Phi Islands, and it was an amazing experience. Our hotel was on the northern part of Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island and only accessible by boat. You can check out the hotel where we stayed in here.
It’s also worth visiting Phi Phi Don village, the busiest part of the island, full of bars, restaurants, and street shops. And be sure to climb to the island’s main viewpoint! It’s a bit of a hike with lots of stairs, but the view is well worth the effort. A small fee is required to visit the viewpoint, and there’s a local shop at the top selling cold drinks.
The most popular attraction of the Phi Phi Islands is undoubtedly Maya Beach, made famous by the film ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Since the film’s release in 2000, the island has been inundated with tourists, and it’s easy to see why – the bay’s stunning scenery is unmatched!
When we visited Maya Bay there were already quite a lot of tourists, but over the years the number of boats and visitors has increased dramatically, causing serious damage to the coral reefs and marine life. In 2018, the Phi Phi Islands’ National Park declared Maya Beach closed to visitors for two years. In 2022, after signs of coral and marine life recovery, the beach reopened with restrictions to protect the ecosystem.
Note that that Maya Bay closes every year in August and September, during which time visits are not permitted.
Photo 7: View from Phi Phi Don viewpoint
Photo 8: Boat tour to Maya Bay
If you’re not planning to stay in the Phi Phi Islands, you can still book a day trip from Phuket. I recommend the following two options on Get Your Guide:
Phuket: Phi Phi Island Sunrise Group Speedboat Tour – this one seems to be a great option if you want to avoid the crowds, as it’s a sunrise tour, although it’s a bit more expensive.
Massages
You can’t visit Thailand without trying a traditional Thai massage. There are countless options available, from luxury hotel spas to more affordable massages on the beach. In Phuket’s old town, you’ll also find several alternatives for those who want to enjoy a relaxing massage.
Check out my posts on where to stay in Phuket (beach and old town) and where to eat in Phuket’s old town.
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